Principal's Message
Term 3 Week 2 24 July 2026
Acting Principal's Update
Dear Ironside families,
It has been another wonderful week of learning, connection, and opportunity at Ironside State School. Every week I continue to be amazed by the incredible experiences our students have both inside and outside the classroom. Thank you for your ongoing partnership in making our school such a special place.
Celebrating a Week of Learning:
A heartfelt thank you to Shelley Lee for coordinating Monday’s visit from our friends at Haga Elementary School. We were privileged to welcome 11 students and five staff members to Ironside. The welcome ceremony was incredibly moving and showcased the warmth, respect and global connections that make our school community so special. Experiences like these broaden our students’ perspectives and create friendships that extend well beyond the classroom.
Our Year 6 students will be heading home from their Canberra Camp after what I’m sure was an unforgettable experience. These opportunities allow students to connect their classroom learning with Australia’s history and democracy while building independence, resilience, and lifelong memories. Thank you to the dedicated staff who organised and accompanied this camp - we appreciate the many hours that go into making these experiences possible.
Our Year 5 students enjoyed their excursion to PEEC, extending their classroom learning through hands-on experiences, while our Year 4 students explored sustainability during their Zero Waste excursion. Learning comes alive when students can experience it in authentic settings, and these excursions provide rich opportunities to deepen understanding.
Congratulations also to the students who proudly represented Ironside at the Northern Eagles Track and Field Trials. We are incredibly proud of your effort, determination, and sportsmanship. Thank you to our HPE team for organising these opportunities and supporting our students to shine.
Looking Ahead:
Next week we are excited to welcome our second Japanese exchange sister school, Tomiokahigashi from Sakai, to the Ironside community. We know our students and families will make students feel a warm welcome as they experience Australian school life.
Student Progress Meetings are also fast approaching. If you haven’t yet booked your appointment, please do so. Our goal is 100% family participation because we know the best outcomes for children occur when schools and families work together in partnership.
Please also join us for our upcoming P&C Meeting on Tuesday 28 July. Our P&C plays an important role in supporting our school, and we’d love to see new and familiar faces attend.
Congratulations to the students invited to participate in the APSMO Mathematics Competition for Years 3–6. These invitation-only opportunities challenge students to think deeply and extend their mathematical thinking. A huge thank you to Mr Chow for creating such strong engagement and enthusiasm for mathematics across our school.
Get Set for Prep!
Do you know a family with a child starting school in 2027?
Prep enrolments are now open! We’d love you to spread the word about everything that makes Ironside such an incredible place to learn.
Get Set for Prep 2027 – Ignite at Ironside!
Encourage friends, neighbours, and family members to contact the school today to begin their enrolment journey.
Looking After Our Ironside Staff:
One of the things we are incredibly proud of at Ironside is the way our staff look out for one another. We know that supporting the wellbeing of our staff is an important part of creating a positive school culture where everyone can thrive.
Over recent months, we have been developing our Staff Wellbeing Framework, supported by Amy Green and shaped by the voices and feedback of our staff. Importantly, this framework has been designed by an internal team of staff who generously volunteered their time, ideas and perspectives to help create something that genuinely reflects our Ironside community.
Our framework is centred around four important pillars:
🌱 Growth – creating opportunities for learning, development and personal growth.
💼 Work – supporting a positive, sustainable and rewarding workplace.
🤝 Relate – building strong relationships, connection and meaningful interactions with one another.
💙 Belong – ensuring every staff member feels valued, included, connected and an important part of our Ironside family.
A very special thank you to our wonderful P&C for their generous financial contribution towards supporting our staff wellbeing. Your ongoing partnership and commitment to our staff is so greatly appreciated. Your contribution allows us to invest in the people who work so hard every day to support and inspire our students.
Thank you also to Amy Green and to our staff wellbeing team for your time, energy and commitment in bringing this framework to life. I look forward to seeing our four pillars continue to guide the ways we care for, connect with and celebrate our incredible Ironside staff.
Because when we look after our people, our people are better able to look after our students.
Building Positive Behaviour Together:
One of the strengths of Ironside is our consistent approach to student behaviour.
We have a dedicated team of staff who meet regularly to analyse behaviour trends, develop explicit teaching lessons and ensure consistent expectations across the school. These messages are reinforced in classrooms, mini assemblies and whole-school assemblies.
Our behaviour focus for next week is transitioning safely and responsibly around the school. With many new students joining our community this term, it is a timely opportunity to revisit our high expectations and ensure every student knows what success looks like.
Investing in Reading Excellence:
Did you know we have a Reading Team of 22 dedicated staff members?
This passionate group regularly explores the latest educational research, examines national best practice and continually refines our reading instruction to ensure every student has the opportunity to become a successful reader. Their commitment to continuous improvement is helping strengthen reading outcomes across our school.
We are proud of our students’ achievements and grateful to our staff for their dedication every day.
A Final Reminder…
Despite their fearless leader being away, The Legends of the Lost are still hard at work!
Please continue to label all student belongings. It makes a huge difference in helping lost items find their way home.
Thank you for another fantastic week at Ironside. Together we continue to build a school where every child can learn, grow and thrive.
Working together,
Tara Griffin
Acting Principal